Summer Research Program for Medical Students
May 26 - July 31, 2009
Request for applications are now being accepted for the 2009 Summer Research Program for Medical Students at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. A component of The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson is one of the nation's leading cancer centers dedicated to patient care, research, education and prevention.
The purpose of the program is to provide participants with firsthand biomedical research experience in the basic or clinical sciences. Student projects are submitted by M. D. Anderson faculty mentors and will reflect ongoing research efforts in the institution's clinics and laboratories. Individuals selected for the program will actively participate in both the technical aspects of their project as well as the interpretation of experimental data. At the end of their summer experience, students will submit their research data in journal article format.
Program trainees will be afforded the opportunity to acquire research skills and, through participation in institutional seminars and lectures, receive information that will be valuable in assessing their career goals related to research and patient care in oncology.
Curriculum
Each student selected for the program is given an opportunity to conduct a research project in one of the biomedical disciplines under the guidance of a full-time member of the M. D. Anderson faculty. Emphasis is placed on the importance of the basic principles that form the foundation for scientific investigation. Students also will be introduced to the clinical problems presented by cancer patients.
During the program, students work in M. D. Anderson laboratories and clinical areas five days a week, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The majority of this time is spent in hands-on research. The laboratory and clinical experiences are supplemented by faculty seminars on a wide variety of research topics.
Qualifications
To qualify for the program, students must have successfully completed their first year of medical school by May 2009, and should demonstrate an interest and predilection for scientific investigation.
Remuneration
Participants in the program receive a stipend of $4,000 for the 10-week period. The stipend is not a salary; it is meant solely to subsidize students so that they may participate in the program.
Housing
Accommodations for out-of-town students are usually available in university dorms a short walking distance from M. D. Anderson. Students will be asked to indicate on their application if they need housing. Responsibility for housing, however, rests solely with each student.
Visit the sites below for more information about the Houston area. NOTE: Pages will open in a new browser window. M. D. Anderson does not endorse external sites.
To Receive Information/Application Packet
Information packets consisting of application information and brochure are not currently available.
Application Process
The completed application -- consisting of biographical data sheet, student letter, and letters of recommendation -- must be returned by January 28, 2009. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered. Selection of participants will be made in March 2009 by members of the Curriculum Subcommittee for the Summer Research Program for Medical Students.
Before starting the program, selected applicants will be required to submit a completed immunization record (form provided) as well as a statement of general health signed by a physician.
For More Information
All correspondence concerning the program should be addressed to:
Michael J. Ahearn, Ph.D.
Summer Research Program for Medical Students - Unit 2
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, TX 77030-4009Phone: (713) 745-1205
FAX: (713) 792-0800
E-mail: mahearn@mdanderson.org or esolguin@mdanderson.org